Has there ever been a time when your outstanding work went unnoticed, while a marginal employee received significant recognition? In his recently published book, Leading Quietly, Joseph Badaracco states, "First rate work performed out of unalloyed dedication to an organization cannot be converted into political capital unless other people, particularly a person's superiors, know about the work and value it. Excellent work performed in obscurity is like the tree that falls in the forest with no one around to hear it."

The following are some ways to make sure people understand and appreciate your work.

• Send your manager an end of year report outlining your achievements and those of your department.

• Write an article for your organization's newsletter on a significant piece of work that you recently completed.

• Prepare an elevator speech that, in thirty seconds, describes your job and its contribution to the company. Be prepared to use it with senior managers, customers and corporate executives.

• Request an opportunity to present an important project at a senior manager staff meeting.

• Host a breakfast meeting to update key people on one of your projects.

At this time of year, many organizations are completing performance appraisals. What better time to make sure you are not a "Best Kept Secret"

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